FEATURE: Huntingdonshire economy is put under the spotlight with future looking bright for district

A light at the end of the tunnel can be finally seen – and, to many, the economic light in Huntingdonshire is shining brighter than in most parts of the country, including our neighbouring districts in Cambridgeshire.

The current level of investment in the district is huge, particularly when you consider that these ­spending commitments were being made at a time when Britain was being told to cut its cloth.

But the gamble looks as if it is paying off and will come to fruition at the right time.

Huntingdon is going through massive changes that will see the town become almost unrecognisable to a few years ago.

The £25million investment in Chequers Court and the Huntingdon West development is designed to bring new life to town, attracting additional national retailers and providing increased trade, both in terms of residents shopping closer to home and visitor numbers.

Footfall in Huntingdonshire towns. Image: PIKTOCHART

Then there’s the A14 project which will potentially, depending on the preferred route, unshackle the town’s traffic flow as well as that of the surrounding areas – from Godmanchester to St Ives and all the villages along the existing route.

St Ives continues to charm visitors from the guided busway and, come May, St Neots will boast a rare thing – a cinema in the middle of town, an attraction pulling people towards the centre rather than out of town.

The Enterprise Zone, at Alconbury Weald, is another string to Huntingdonshire’s economic bow, attracting new businesses and providing employment opportunities over an extended period.

All of these projects – as well as smaller schemes – will help to get the district back to the top of its game, providing a good quality of life for residents as well as high levels of employment.

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